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Wales Tour 2013: Japan
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<blockquote data-quote="psychic duck" data-source="post: 558313" data-attributes="member: 48703"><p>Agree about Harry Robinson. Although he does look better at U20 level than regional level to be fair.</p><p></p><p>No to Henson at full back though. I don't think he would be a bad full back, but he is Wales' most skilled ball player, I would want him getting more ball at either 10 or 12.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>I wouldn't get too carried away about Andrews. I was amazed that he did well in his cameo against England, and England's props should be embarrassed that he managed to push them back. However, week in week out at regional level, although improved a bit from last season, he is still a long long way off the level required for international and the Blues scrum often struggles.</p><p></p><p>Craig Mitchell should be back hopefully for this tour. I also disagree about not selecting Paul James. We need to win the matches, and Japan have a weak scrum (Romania with 3rd choice props absolutely obliterated them in this part of the field last November), and James would be the ideal player to make use of that advantage, especially if you are planning on playing a tighthead who has been destroyed a fair few times over his career.</p><p></p><p>Also you say "you won't learn anything" by playing an experienced player, but then why have you included Charteris, Lee Byrne and James Hook later in your team? Paul James is a starter for me, and to be honest, I think the Lions could do worse than him as one of their three looseheads, and I also think he was hard done by not to start ahead of Gethin for this entire tournament.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>King is very lightweight for a lock which is the downside of him there. So I would like Charteris' size next to him, but not sure if he is fit. And I wouldn't suggest two 6's in Coombs and King play at lock together. So Bradley Davies should start as one lock, and probably Coombs the other.</p><p></p><p>I'm not totally sure whether both AWJ an Ian Evans (although I think they should) will go on the Lions tour either, so they could be one of the locks anyway.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Our number 8 options behind Toby are poor. None of those 8's particularly excite me. However there aren't any I could suggest ahead of them either, apart from Ieuan Jones who to be honest has impressed me despite the playing behind an god awful front five at the Dragons, so I would back him as a number 8 ahead of those three even though he is very green.</p><p></p><p>I hope there is no McCusker or Turnbull here though, neither are good enough.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Not sure Biggar will go to Oz. But if he doesn't he would start of course. As for scrum half, I like Aled Davies at the Scarlets. Not a flash scrum half trying making breaks all the time, but simply one who can give good quick service for the backs which it sometimes gets forgotten that is the scrum halves main job. Rhodri Williams also looks decent, but is yet another sniping scrum half which there are loads of in Wales already. Davies others a different type of scrum half to all the others.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Why couldn't Henson and Beck play together? I like your alternative midfield most actually. Beck is very capable of acting the crash ball role, but also offers good offloading skills much better than Roberts or Davies as well.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Dirksen doesn't qualify until 2014. So Eli Walker, Aled Brew and Richard Fussell would be my preferred back three. Realistically though, there is no way that the Welsh coaches won't select the "next JPR" Liam Williams.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="psychic duck, post: 558313, member: 48703"] Agree about Harry Robinson. Although he does look better at U20 level than regional level to be fair. No to Henson at full back though. I don't think he would be a bad full back, but he is Wales' most skilled ball player, I would want him getting more ball at either 10 or 12. I wouldn't get too carried away about Andrews. I was amazed that he did well in his cameo against England, and England's props should be embarrassed that he managed to push them back. However, week in week out at regional level, although improved a bit from last season, he is still a long long way off the level required for international and the Blues scrum often struggles. Craig Mitchell should be back hopefully for this tour. I also disagree about not selecting Paul James. We need to win the matches, and Japan have a weak scrum (Romania with 3rd choice props absolutely obliterated them in this part of the field last November), and James would be the ideal player to make use of that advantage, especially if you are planning on playing a tighthead who has been destroyed a fair few times over his career. Also you say "you won't learn anything" by playing an experienced player, but then why have you included Charteris, Lee Byrne and James Hook later in your team? Paul James is a starter for me, and to be honest, I think the Lions could do worse than him as one of their three looseheads, and I also think he was hard done by not to start ahead of Gethin for this entire tournament. King is very lightweight for a lock which is the downside of him there. So I would like Charteris' size next to him, but not sure if he is fit. And I wouldn't suggest two 6's in Coombs and King play at lock together. So Bradley Davies should start as one lock, and probably Coombs the other. I'm not totally sure whether both AWJ an Ian Evans (although I think they should) will go on the Lions tour either, so they could be one of the locks anyway. Our number 8 options behind Toby are poor. None of those 8's particularly excite me. However there aren't any I could suggest ahead of them either, apart from Ieuan Jones who to be honest has impressed me despite the playing behind an god awful front five at the Dragons, so I would back him as a number 8 ahead of those three even though he is very green. I hope there is no McCusker or Turnbull here though, neither are good enough. Not sure Biggar will go to Oz. But if he doesn't he would start of course. As for scrum half, I like Aled Davies at the Scarlets. Not a flash scrum half trying making breaks all the time, but simply one who can give good quick service for the backs which it sometimes gets forgotten that is the scrum halves main job. Rhodri Williams also looks decent, but is yet another sniping scrum half which there are loads of in Wales already. Davies others a different type of scrum half to all the others. Why couldn't Henson and Beck play together? I like your alternative midfield most actually. Beck is very capable of acting the crash ball role, but also offers good offloading skills much better than Roberts or Davies as well. Dirksen doesn't qualify until 2014. So Eli Walker, Aled Brew and Richard Fussell would be my preferred back three. Realistically though, there is no way that the Welsh coaches won't select the "next JPR" Liam Williams. [/QUOTE]
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